The latest version of the Baltimore City teachers' contract appears to be a work in progress, with some who still give it a failing grade.

A year has passed since city teachers signed what some have called a "landmark" contract that came with extra money -- and plenty of strings attached.

Advertisement

It took two voting dates to pass the city teacher contract, and some educators remain displeased with what they eventually got in writing.

"Here it is, the contract. It's just filled with lies," said Peter French, a teacher. "There is no menu for teachers to choose from for clubs, for mentoring, for the ways we were supposed to improve our students' behavior and performance, and there's nothing there."

PDF: Read the 2010-2013 BTU Teachers Contract

The Baltimore Teachers Union admitted the contract is far from perfect, but the union called the deal a major improvement over what teachers had before.

"I think teachers are now more excited about their work and their practice," said Marietta English, the union's president. "Teachers are really getting involved in how to improve their practice and how to make sure the children are achieving to do those things they've always done but making sure it gets done."

Some teachers who opposed the original contract said it's filled with broken promises.

"We basically had to show or prove that we do what we said we do every day," said Aisha Watson, a teacher. "They made this contract seem big, like, 'Oh, we want to pay you for the things you (do) that are extra outside of teaching.' And we did that ... and we still don't know."

Meanwhile, top city school officials said they're looking at the bottom line, test scores and the district's graduation rate.

"I think it's too early. I think we will know we have been successful when we see significant improvements sustained over time. There has been some of that, but there needs to be a lot more," Baltimore City Schools CEO Andres Alonso said.

One of the other major hurdles in the contract that remains on the table is a teacher evaluation system tied to student performance. The teachers' contract expires in 2013.